HyBRO-CAP is a five-year research project funded through the third edition of the Italian Fund for Science (FIS3) by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR). The project has received a €1.54 million grant and will be carried out at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Bari Aldo Moro, under the leadership of Principal Investigator Dr. Paola Albanese, starting from May 2026.

HyBRO-CAP aims to develop a new generation of bio-hybrid synthetic cells capable of converting CO₂ into useful organic compounds including biotechnologically relevant molecules, amino acids, peptides, proteins, and metabolites for chemical energy generation.

By combining biological components with engineered cell-like systems, the project seeks to recreate key functions of living cells within a controlled, modular platform. Our goal is to harness the efficiency of natural biological machinery while gaining the flexibility and controllability of synthetic systems.

Ultimately, HyBRO-CAP envisions synthetic cells as miniature bioreactors for sustainable CO₂ assimilation and energy production, opening new possibilities at the interface of synthetic biology, biotechnology, and sustainable chemistry.